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(N o Model.)

J. P. SNBDIKBR SEWING MACHINE.

N0. 296,638. Patented Apr. 8, 1884.

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JAMES F. SNEDIKER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PA., ASSIGXOR TO THE NATIONAL SEYVIN G MACHINE GOMPAN Y, (LIMITEE) F SAME PLACE.

SEWING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent-No. 296,638, dated April 8, 1884.

Application filed November f9.6, 1883. (No model.)

, To :Lil whom it liz/ay concern:

Be it known that l, JAMES F. SNEDIKER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented Improvements in Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a specication.

The main object of my invention is lo permit vertical movement of the needle of a sewing -machine independently of the devices whereby the same is reciprocated in the ordinary Working ofthe machine, my invention having especial reference to that class of machines in which a loopingsneedle is employed in connection with the main needle for making an oversea-m-stitch, and in which automatic devices having clamps for the fabric are used, as described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side view, partly in section, of sufficient of a sewingmachine to illustrate my invention; Fig. 2, a detached perspective view of a portion of the same, and Fig. 3 a modification.V

A is the table or bed of the'machine; B, the head or stock; D, the needle-bar; E, the vibrating lever for actuating the same;` F, the looper-arm; G, the drivingshaft, and H and I the cams for operating the lever E and arm F, respectively. These parts are all common to an ordinary overseam-sewing machine, the bar D carrying the main needle c and the arm Faloopenneedle, b,and thepartsbeingso timed that when the .needle a is raised the looperneedle b is also projected above the table A, the needle c descending as the needle b is retracted. In consequence of this it is difcult to apply to or remove from the machine the fabric which is being sewed, especially When buttorrholes are being made and automatic feeding devices having cloth-clamps are ein- 4o ployed. In order to overcome this objection, I discard the usual plan of connecting the lever E directly to the needlebar, and iit the latter to a sleeve, J, which is connected to the lever E and is free to reciprocate vertically in .i5 the bea-rings in the stock of the machine, the sleeve being furnished with the usual pin adapted to a scroll-slot in the sleeve K,which carries the looper-hook d, so that the latter will be vibrated as the sleeve is reciprocated. By this means the needle-bar can be. elevated 5o or depressed without necessitating any operation of the other parts of the machine, and when the looping-needle l: is retracted the needle c can be drawn up above the table A, so asl not to interfere with the ready application or removal of thefabric, and can then be restored to its proper posit-ion in respect to the looper-needle before starting the niachine. l l Y Various means may be employed for loclr- 6o ing the'needlebar to the sleeve J so as to permit the ready release of the bar therefrom when necessary. In the present instance, a pin, f, on the bar is adapted to a right-angled slot, g, in the sleeve, the pin occupying a position in the horizontal portion of the slot when the bar is locked to the sleeve,and being moved into the vertical portion of the slot when it is desired to elevate the bar. Aspringclip, ZL, is in the present instance used to pre- 7o vent the accidental turning of the needle-bar, so as to unlock it from the sleeve; but this is not absolutely essentiahas the needle-bar may iit the sleeve so snugly that the friction between the two will be sufficient to prevent ao- 7 5 cidental turning of the bar.

An inclined slot-such as shown in Fig. 3 may be used in place of the right-angled slot, if desired, the turning and elevation of the needle-bar in this case being simultaneous; 8o and the independentlyadjustable needle-bar may be used in sewing-machines generally as well as in the particular form of machine shown and described.

I cla-im as my invention- 1. The combination of the sleeve J, having a slot, g, means for guiding and for reciprocating said sleeve, and a needle-bar, D, capable of being turned and moved vertically in the sleeve, and having a pin, f, adapted to the 9o slot g, as set forth.

2. The combination of the sleeve J, having a right-angled slot, g, means for reciprocating and for guiding said sleeve, a needle-bar, D,

Q Y 296,638 f capable of being turned and moved vertically In testimony whereof I have signed my 1o in the sleeve, and having a pin, f, adapted to naine to this speciication in the presence of the slot g, and the retainer h, as set forth. two subscribing witnesses.

3. The combination of the lower loopingneedle, b, and its operating mechanism', the JAMES F. SNEDIKER.

upper sewing-needle, a, and its bar D, the sleeve J, in which the said bar D can loe Witnesses: moved vertically, and .means for guiding and l for reciprocating said sleeve, as set forth.

JOHN M. CLAYTON, HARRY SMITH. 

